Yuletide Cowboy Read online

  She did not need Chance Turner’s help, nor that of his wealthy cousins!

  It was one thing to help Stacy but this… This is for the good of the shelter, said a little voice in the back of her head.

  She ignored it and marched straight over to the group. “Thank you for the thought. But I don’t need the help.” She tried to keep her rising irritation out of her voice. “I hope you’ll give the donation to the shelter anyway.”

  Wyatt gave her a crooked grin, one that all the Turner men had in varying degrees. “Lynn, he’s just coming out to hang some lights.”

  A heavy tug of embarrassment hit her. “I know that. It’s just that I don’t need any help.” Her gaze slid to Chance, who still didn’t look any happier about the situation.

  Amanda looked worriedly at her. “We just thought with this being the Christmas season and you and the boys being in your own place that some help would be nice.”

  “And we wanted to make sure Chance didn’t get bored or become a hermit out there at the stagecoach house,” Cole drawled. “If not for yourself, think of our poor cousin.”

  Chance shot Cole a long-suffering look. It was easy to tell he was used to being teased by his cousins. “Yeah, think of me,” Chance said at last. “If you don’t let them do this I’ll never hear the end of it.”

  Not because he wanted to. “I don’t think so.” She refused to have a man working around her house who didn’t want to be there. Especially when she didn’t want him there in the first place. Despite her words everyone continued to watch her expectantly. Did they think this was all it took for her to be herded into their way of thinking? She had a mind of her own. “No thank you,” she added more firmly for clarification. She had a right to make her own decision without feeling guilty about it! Before she acted like a total jerk, she turned and headed out the door with her back straight. She knew they were all probably thinking she was being rude but she couldn’t help that. She and her boys could put up their own lights. They could.

  She was within a few steps of escape when she heard her name.

  “Lynn, wait.” Norma Sue left Esther Mae talking to a relieved looking Emmett and a still baffled Stacy. “Did I hear you say you weren’t going to accept Chance’s help?”

  People were milling around in groups and Lynn shuffled out of the way of a wave of folks talking excitedly among themselves. She glanced toward the door. “No, Norma Sue, I’m not.”

  “But you have to, honey. They paid that money and it isn’t going to hurt anything. And you really deserve some help, what with all you have going on, working, taking care of those boys, and the upcoming children’s pageant.”

  The pageant wasn’t going to be much trouble. The kids were practicing the songs on Sunday mornings and Adela and Esther Mae were doing the costumes, so all she had to do was oversee a dress rehearsal. No trouble at all. “Norma Sue, it’s embarrassing,” she confided. Norma Sue, Esther Mae and Adela had been wonderful to volunteer at the shelter. They’d kept children when needed and offered moral support and shoulders to cry on. In doing so Lynn and all the other women at the shelter had come to love them like family. They also knew that Lynn had issues—issues she didn’t like to dwell on. Or talk about. They knew this. So why were they pressuring her?

  “Don’t get any ideas about me and…him. Don’t you dare do it. I told you the other day not to.” She whispered him long and hard, giving the notorious matchmaker a warning eye as uncomfortable thoughts of being alone with a man pressed in on her. She’d not let her thoughts dwell on old fears that hid deep inside her. She held her emotions in a tight coil.

  This entire situation had matchmaking written all over it—just like she’d been afraid it would. Lynn hadn’t realized until now that Wyatt Turner had hooked his brothers up with their wives before he himself fell in love and married Amanda. That being the case, it hit her instantly that he would want to see his cousin married off, too.

  Surely not with me.

  Surely yes, and she knew they were thinking it could work. Chance’s stay in town would be his perfect opportunity. They had no idea how wrong they were. None…The room suddenly felt far too closed in… She swayed slightly and fought to stay calm as her past swept like a dark, clawing shadow choking her—like Drew had done so many times. She couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think.

  Esther Mae was heading their way like an excited bumblebee in her yellow-and-black velour jogging suit, followed by Adela. They were so happy with their good intentions. So totally misguided. Lynn pressed a hand to her stomach and demanded her body and her emotions not betray her but it was a losing battle. Suddenly, the room seemed to implode about her.

  Breathe. Her pulse rate skyrocketed and her stomach plummeted. It was that weird, unkind feeling that had taken over in the midst of trying to escape the violence of her life. She’d thought that once she escaped her husband’s fist she’d be okay. But that hadn’t been the case. Her panic attacks had eased up over the last couple of years but this was a bad one.

  She made it out the door in seconds, rushing off the plank sidewalk and around the side of the building, where she managed to fight off the need to throw up. Drew’s twisted, violent face filled her mind’s eye and she gagged. Her stomach rolled.

  “Dear God, help me,” she gasped, and stumbled to ward her car. She had to get home. No one could see her like this. No one.

  Almost before the words were out of her mouth she felt some semblance of control returning. Not completely, but a portion.

  She headed down the street and felt relief as she reached her car.

  Christmas was coming. This was the time to be happy and to count her blessings. She inhaled the cold, fresh air and willed her pulse to slow. It didn’t. The last thing she needed to do was let this pull her down further. She thought of the good in her life. She had a great life going for her now.

  Some women needed and wanted men in their lives. The only two men she wanted or needed in her life were her twins. They were the loves of her life and she was satisfied with that.

  She did not need Chance Turner’s family or anyone else, including Chance, interfering with the life she was envisioning for her and her boys.

  And that included how she chose to decorate her house for Christmas!

  “Lynn, wait.”

  No. She spun, startled by Chance’s voice. “I need to go pick my boys up,” she said, praying for strength in her words.

  “Look, about what happened in there—”

  Miraculously she calmed. “I won’t be railroaded, Chance. And that’s exactly how it felt in there. I’m the first to know the auction was for a great cause, but I would have bid on a man if I’d wanted one. And I didn’t, don’t and won’t be forced, no matter how good the intention.”

  “And I’d have put myself in the running if I’d wanted a woman.” He stopped a few steps from her. “Believe me, the last thing I want is to railroad you. I just came out here to say I’m sorry if we offended you. I know that is the last thing my family wanted to do. They thought they were doing you a favor—”

  “They were trying to match us up.”

  He had the decency not to deny it. “You’re right. I think that was apparent. But still, there was no offense intended. I can tell you’re upset. Are you okay? Is there something I can do?”

  She shook her head, tears suddenly threatening. “I—I’m not offended. Not really. Look, I have my own plans and I’m hoping everyone can understand that and honor my wishes.”

  “Yeah, sure they can. I’ll relay that to my family.” He stepped toward her, concern written in his expression.

  “You aren’t okay.”

  “I’m fine.” She pulled open her car door. “Don’t worry about me. You have your own plan you came to town to work on, I’m sure.” Why she added that she wasn’t certain, but he got an odd look on his face. His jaw tightened and he glanced down the street for a long moment. Pain? Was that what she’d just seen?

  When he looked back at her his ey
es were troubled, con firming that she had just seen a flash of hurt. “I do have my reasons for being back here. Anyway, you be careful picking up your kids. The deer are getting hungry this time of year and probably thick along the roadways.”

  Her heart tightened for him as he headed down the street in the direction opposite from the community center. Apparently he’d had enough, too.

  She got inside her car and sat in the silence, giving herself time to calm down before driving. This wasn’t a new thing to her. She’d been upset far too many times in her life and knew driving while her world was spinning was risky.

  She was still thinking about that troubled look in Chance’s eyes when she finally headed to pick up the boys. Instead of worrying and dwelling on what had happened to her, she couldn’t stop wondering what had brought Chance home.

  She’d heard there had been a tragedy and a cowboy had been killed by the bull he’d been trying to ride. But that didn’t explain why Chance had come home. He was a rodeo preacher—tragedy happened. And he was a man of faith. So what had put that pain in his expression…in his heart?

  It was none of her business.

  And she wanted it to remain that way. She did not want to get into Chance Turner’s business and she didn’t want him in hers.

  Period.

  With a capital P.

  Chapter Six

  Chance just couldn’t let it go. Sitting in the truck at the end of Lynn’s drive he stared at the house in the early morning sunlight.

  It had a steep gable roof and a porch on the front with a matching roofline. It was one of those roofs that Christmas lights looked great on, but a man could break his neck hanging them on the high pitch. The thought of Lynn attaching those lights herself bothered him as he pressed the gas and drove down the gravel driveway. Not to mention the fact that he couldn’t stop thinking about how upset she’d been last night. He’d noticed that even upset as she was she’d shown concern for him in the end.

  Pulling to a halt in front of the house, he stepped from the truck and hesitated before striding to the porch. He’d come for a reason, not an excuse. Not because he hadn’t been able to get her off his mind.

  The boards creaked as he stepped on them and one—no, several—he noticed at closer inspection were in need of replacement. He knocked on the door and waited. When there was no answer after a couple of minutes he knocked again. Lynn’s car was parked at the edge of the house in the metal carport so she had to be home.

  It was likely that she’d peeked out the window, had seen him and decided not to open the door.

  He hoped not though. On the other hand, he couldn’t blame her if she did exactly that after everything that had transpired last night.

  In the short time he’d been home the weather had gone from the forties to today’s seventy degrees. It was a beautiful balmy December day in Texas—they were having a snowstorm up north and Texas was having a breezy summer day in the middle of the winter. It was one of those perks of living in the Lone Star State. He rapped his knuckles on the door one last time before heading back to his truck, more disappointed than he wanted to admit.

  Laughter coming from behind the house called for a detour.

  Careful to watch for running twins, he strode around the corner and spotted Lynn and both boys hard at work on what appeared to be the beginnings of a tree house. But the only indication it was a tree house was the fact that a tree was involved.

  Their backs were to him, huddled together studying their handiwork. Lynn said something and the boys laughed.

  A ball of unease settled in his gut. What was he doing?

  The Catahoula was sprawled on its back off to the side enjoying the sunlight. He must have caught Chance’s scent on the wind because he suddenly sprang to his feet, belted out a war cry and charged his way. Uh-uh. Not happening again. Chance braced himself, stared at the dog and commanded, “No.”

  Instantly Tiny dropped to his haunches and stared at him like a tiny puppy being scolded. His wide head cocked and his eyes pleaded an explanation but he sat still.

  “Chance!” Gavin exclaimed first. Without waiting the boy raced toward him and grabbed him around the knees. “I told Momma you’d come help us.”

  “Hi, Gavin. What kind of help do you need?” The zealous greeting took Chance by surprise.

  Jack was right on his brother’s heels. “With the tree house,” he exclaimed, latching on to his other leg. De spite the frown on Lynn’s face there was no way Chance couldn’t smile.

  “So you’re building that tree house. Sounds like fun!”

  Without hesitation they each grabbed a hand, tugging him forward, chattering all the way. Tiny pounded about them in a circle barking excitedly. Chance had trouble following what they were saying: They were building a tree house, they found wood in the old barn, Gavin wanted to climb the ladder but his momma wouldn’t let him, Jack couldn’t hit a nail for nothin’! Chance laughed at that one.

  It was amazing how much information poured out of them in the twenty feet between the house and the tree.

  “Good morning,” he said to Lynn. “It looks like you could use a little help.” She might not want it but it was glaringly apparent that Lynn needed help with this project. Once again he felt bad for her—caught in a situation she didn’t want and all because of him. She’d been nailing a board to a tree limb—he assumed this was going to be the floor of the tree house. He eyed it, not wanting to be critical, but he was really glad, for safety reasons, that the thing was only about five feet off the ground. Lynn was standing on a lightweight fiberglass ladder that she’d leaned against the limb. He didn’t want to tell her that her structure wasn’t going to be very safe.

  “Hi,” she said, climbing from the ladder. Her hair was in a ponytail and she wore a soft blue sweater that made her skin radiant. “I’m just starting.”

  He also didn’t want to tell her that it didn’t matter if she’d been working all day it wasn’t going to get any better. “I was just passing by and thought I’d drop by. You know, see how you were this morning.” He’d gone in for coffee at Sam’s and been put through more of the same from Sam, App and Stanley. He couldn’t explain in front of the twins that he needed to talk to her, so he left it at that. “This is going to be the floor, I’m thinking.” He tried to sound light.

  She didn’t find that amusing. “We’re learning.”

  “We got a mess.” Jack crossed his little arms and studied the situation seriously. He looked like a miniature man contemplating his next move.

  “Sure do,” Gavin agreed. “Momma done nailed that board on there nine hundred times!”

  Jack crunched his eyebrows looking up at Chance. “We’re havin’ a learn’n’ experience, all right.”

  “Hey, it’s not that bad.” Lynn chuckled, and then sighed. “But close. Apparently I have no talent with a hammer and on top of that I have no clue what I’m doing. But we’re getting there. We are definitely having a learning experience.”

  Chance felt for her. His own unease lessened a bit. “Can I talk to you for a minute?” He didn’t want to talk about the money from the auction in front of the boys.

  “Sure. Boys, why don’t you go get a carton of juice. You deserve a break.”

  Both boys yelped excitedly and started toward the house only to halt.

  “Are you gonna help us?” Gavin asked.

  Chance felt a tug on his heartstrings. What did he say to that? He couldn’t overstep their mother. “We’ll see.”

  That got him two frowns. Lynn intervened. “Go on now and get your juice. You can add a cookie, too.”

  The offer was too sweet to pass up, bringing big grins as they raced each other to the back door. Tiny trailed them, flopping on the step to wait when they disappeared inside.

  It was quiet the moment the door slammed shut behind them. Feeling suddenly ill at ease, Chance snagged his hat from his head and held it in both hands. “I came to tell you that my cousins gave the donation to the shelter with no s
trings attached. I didn’t want you to feel bad or worry that your decision caused them not to get the money.”

  Her shoulders relaxed and her pretty eyes softened. “Thank you. I didn’t want them to lose out on such a generous donation because I didn’t accept the offer.”

  It was easy to see that she was a nice lady, just guarded. And hurt, giving her every right to protect her self. He couldn’t help being curious about her. “I know we talked about this last night but I just want you to understand that my family meant well. They really did. They just overstepped their boundaries. The Turners are known for being overzealous at times. Or maybe the word is overbearing.”

  Lynn’s shoulder lifted slightly. “Overzealous can be a good thing. I’m just into planning my own life these days. I hope people can understand that. If I hurt any feelings I’m sorry, but that’s just the way it has to be.”

  Her back stiffened. She was closing the door between them again.

  “You need to do what works best for you, Lynn.” He glanced again at the poor tree house. “I could help if you’d like me to.”

  “No,” she said too quickly. “We’ll figure it out.”

  That was easy enough. And for the best, he guessed.

  “I’ll head out then. I just wanted to tell you not to worry. You have a right to turn their offer down.”

  She nodded. He wondered why she was so wary. Of course it was easy to figure out that she came from an abusive situation, since she’d lived in the shelter. But how bad had it been? He’d seen the panic in her last night. Lynn looked strong. Nothing about her hinted that she would have allowed someone to lift a hand to her…but apparently she had. He knew that all too often there was a misconception that abused women were weak. That wasn’t always true. He also knew there were ways to abuse someone other than physically.

  No matter how much she pushed away his conversation, he couldn’t get the idea out of his head. When she’d fled the building last night it had bothered him a great deal. He’d followed her but she hadn’t been happy about it and had seemed glad to see him leave. He had a feeling she would be happy to see him leave now also.